Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-30

At 1923 O'Clock Sheriff Jones came on,
OF the front door Of the Jail building an6
was Immediately followed by Father Dolls
leading the condemned man. They ven,
direct to the scaffold. and the Sheriff i'm
mediately informed the prisoner of his nea,
approach to death. The fatal moose wa,
placed about his neck and Sheriff Jope,
and Jailer Rote proceeded to strap Hard,
ing's hands and feet. While this was beins
done, the prisoner remarked, "Be ~carefnl,
you will throw me-" and asked that his
slippers be taken OH. which was done.
He passed some whispered remarks To
the priest, and after co completing the strap.
ping, Sheriff Jones proceeded to readiust
the knot under the condemned mans left
ear. He commented on the tiehtness O,
the rope. and Harding replied, 1T will be
considerably tighter in q few minutes"
Sheriff Jones then told the prisoner that
his time had come and hoped that he would
forgive everybody. Harding said, II for
give everybody" .
Harding kissed the cross, which was prof
fered him by the priest.
HIS LAST
At this time the black cap had not been
drawn over Harding's face and he was
strengthening himself for the final moment.
Sheriff Jones intended to introduce a com
plete novelty in executions on this occasion,
80 he had coached Marshal Jolley to step
forward at this j~uncture and engage Hard
ing in conversation while he would quietly
attend to cutting the rope which held up
the weight at a moment when the con-
demned wal of his guard. In accordance
with th's programme Mr.. Jolley approaches
Harding and said in a serious tone: 'Mr.
Harding you will soon leave U.S." "Yes,
Mr.. Jolley," said he, relaxing the tension
of bis muscles and assuming an "at ease'
position, or as much as he could under the
circumstances. Il Am sorry for you,
Harding" continued Jolley. u" do not
think you are as hard a man as some
folks take you to be-" Mr.. Jolley, I am
not" replied Harding, a smile of pleasure
at the unexpected kindness of the remark
lighting up his features. These were his
last words ana were scarcely out of his
mouth when-precisely.at 2:31 o'clock-the
rope was cut, the body of Thomas H.
Harding shot up into the air as the weight
descended, and without a struggle it was
all over. His neck vas broken by the jerk,
and the end was painless.
At 2:37 o'clock, Drs. Pickman and Lea
son pronounced life extinct. After being
allowed to hang for seventeen minutes, the
body was cut down and prepared for
burial.
During the entire preparation Harding
was cool and collected, showing no emo
tion, save a flush on his pallid cheek as
the moose was put over his head, and he
died brave to the last, protesting his inno-
cence Of the crime.
Sheriff Lloyd was in consultation with
Sheriff Jones all morning, and rendered
him much assistance by his practical ad-
vice.
Among those who were present officially
at the execution were r. M. Bateman,
Sheriff from Glendale; Thomas
Robbins, from Melrose, and Messrs. Cook,
Hanson and Bridgman, from Glendale,
among those selected as jurors.
Sheriff Jones deserves the highest praise
or the simple and effective manner in
he carried out the sentence of the
court.